We were lucky to catch up with Pearl Pearlman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Pearl, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken is moving from NY to CA without any money or a job in 2014. All I had was my car, my best friend, and a dream of becoming a yoga teacher. After first moving to Temecula and struggling to find a job, I eventually moved to San Diego after visiting and falling in love that Memorial Day weekend. Although I had officially moved to San Diego from Temecula, before I left Temecula I signed up for a yoga teacher training with money that I borrowed from my dad. I spent every weekend for about 1.5 years driving up to Temecula to learn from my teacher and wound up training 700 hours with her over the course of that time. I finally felt prepared to teach yoga after that haha. I struggled financially for a while, trying to make ends meet with dog walking and side jobs. Fast forward about 9 years, and I am the full time yoga and fitness supervisor at Mesa Rim Climbing centers hosting yoga teacher trainings, workshops, and building community through the love of yoga.
Pearl, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I got into yoga much like how other people did: I took a yoga class, felt amazing and felt called to share it with the world. Yoga helped me so much with my depression and outlook on life, it literally transformed everything about my life. Part of the reason I loved yoga, was it’s ability to help slow me down. That’s why I primarily teach yin yoga. Yin yoga is an amazing way to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and well as giving space for the mind and body to relish in each posture.
My students and private clients are finding more ease in their body and mind. They are feeling the benefits of taking the time to honor their bodies, slowing down, listening, and giving into the present moment.
I think the thing I am most proud of is coming from literally nothing when I moved to California to building and sustaining a community around our mutual love of yoga. I set out into my yoga teacher training with the intention of relieving the suffering of the world and I think I am doing it one person at a time, one class at a time.
More specifically, I love the community at Mesa Rim where I primarily work. We’ve cultivated a really rad space where people can climb, do yoga, and take care of themselves in so many different ways. I feel blessed for the opportunity to help build this space for everyone.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
I think the biggest thing in finding success in my field is consistently showing up and not taking things personally. Sometimes, especially when we are new at something, if people don’t show up to our class or offering, it can seem like we aren’t offering something of value to people. But I’ve learned that it usually isn’t the reason why attendance is low, and I need to just keep showing up and doing my thing. The people that are meant to come to my class and hear what I have to say and be guided by me, will eventually come.
As well as realizing that you aren’t going to please everyone. You’re probably not EVERYONES cup of tea. To keep uniquely expressing ourselves is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves and everyone else.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Yes and no. I think yes because I love the path that I’ve gone down and experienced so far. And no because I feel like I know where my path is leading now and I wish I had started sooner! No regrets though.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @pearlmanimal